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Reading Across People America Day in Rockdale Page 7
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Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Volume 20 Number 49
Stonecrest bill introduced Greenhaven expected next
Jason Lary Stonecrest
Kathryn Rice Greenhaven
By Valerie J. Morgan
The proposed city of Stonecrest in Southeast DeKalb County was introduced in the General Assembly on March 3. State Rep. Dee DawkinsHaigler, D-Lithonia, sponsored the legislation, House Bill 539. “I am so proud that Rep. Haigler is the lead sponsor on our bill. She covers the majority of the Stonecrest proposed footprint and is very wellrespected in the Legislature,” said Jason Lary, president of the Stonecrest City Alliance, the group seeking incorporation. In February, Stonecrest received approval from the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia, which determined through a study that Stonecrest is fiscally feasible. The proposed city of 50,000 residents would generate $9.8 million in annual revenues and have a $.1.9 million surplus, according to the study. Stonecrest became the third proposed city to be introduced by state legislators this year, joining Tucker and LaVista Hills. A bill for South DeKalb’s Greenhaven also is expected to be introduced in the General Assembly soon. Greenhaven, which includes 295,000 residents, is the largest proposed city in DeKalb. It would cover about 126 square miles, stretching from Atlanta’s eastern border near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and beyond Stone Mountain. Kathryn Rice, president of the Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South DeKalb, the group for Greenhaven, said its feasibility study shows that it also is viable. The Carl Vinson Institute determined Greenhaven would generate $45,611,418 in annual revenues and have a $27,176,981 surplus after expenses. Rice held a community meeting on Feb. 28 to discuss Greenhaven’s charter, the guiding document that explains the structure for the proposed city. She said more community meetings are planned. If the cityhood bills pass this year, voters who live within the borders of each proposed city would decide on the measures in a referendum that is likely to be held in November, officials say.
Beverly Hall loses cancer battle Page 10
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Tall Tribute to A Hawks Legend
Dominique Wilkins is honored with a larger-than-life statue,which will permanently stand in front of the Hawks’ Philips Arena at the ticket booth to welcome millions of fans for years to come.
By Joshua Smith
The Atlanta Hawks Philips Arena now boasts a granite statute paying tribute to one of the NBA’s greatest: Dominique Wilkins. A host of dignitaries, celebrities, family and friends were on hand for the March 5 unveiling ceremony for the larger-than-life statute of Wilkins. The private luncheon brought together about 100 invited guests who got an early look at the 13.5-feet-tall, 18,500-pound granite, gold-colored statue that immortalizes one of Wilkins’ most famous dunks: “the windmill.” The statue opened to the public on Feb. 6. “Today is a surreal moment. This statue represents not only me and my family but the great sports heritage that this city has already and the competitive, proud, fun, entertaining era of the NBA that players like me and Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley represent,” said Wilkins, who is 55. “Nobody loves this organization more than me. I bleed and breathe Hawks. You know, it’s funny, today reminds me of the day I made it to the league and bought my mom a house. Today and that day will stand as some of the most memorable moments of my life.” The basketball legend’s brother,
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCGNews
See Dominique, page 6
GPTC’s Wesley Chapel campus on track By Joshua Smith
Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) is moving ahead with plans to open its 11th educational facility in the former 50,000-square-foot Everest Institute on Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur. The twoyear college’s newest campus is expected to open by June, GPTC President Jabari Simama said. Simama said thanks to the $5 million renovation that Everest Institute made to the former Wal-Mart building in 2009, GPTC will be able to move in with few upgrades. Everest closed its campus in 2012. GPTC is expected to get the Technical College System of Georgia’s approval of the lease agreement over the next coming weeks. “The facility already has lavatories and educational equipment such as labs, display boards and furniture in great shape,” said Simama. “We can basically move right in once the state approves the lease.” College staff is also looking at nailing down a date for a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. In line with the rest of GPTC’s other campuses, the new campus will offer courses that are “practical and relevant,” said Simama. The new campus also will serve as a pipeline to jobs that are readily available in Georgia and provide educational training to students who want to become entrepreneurs and small business owners. A complete list of courses offered at the South DeKalb campus is still pending,
Students discuss majors and career changes at GPTC’s Clarkston campus.
but some confirmed classes include Adult Education, Early Childhood Care and Education, Engineering Technology, Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Accounting, Human Resource Management Specialist, Practical Nursing, Information Technology and Health Care Technology. “At the South DeKalb campus, we have the chance to offer services that will serve as a poverty fighting, job creating program. We will feature programs at this campus that can move students from poverty to the middle
class in 24 months or less,” said Simama. “In 12 to 24 months, you can look forward to getting both your high school diploma and a degree. You could really be looking forward to middle class life and living the American dream.” GPTC, which provides students with career services including post-graduation counseling, has a 98.4 percent job placement See GPTC, page 6